Musical string-instrument tuner



-May 3 1927. 1,626,753.

R. F. PECINA ET AL MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT TUNER Filed Sept. '8, .1925

Z INVENTOR: 11 iiudonhflficina and 7*355 20 7 Erich l fm'lson, gag/4| BYI Y i /A9 122126 '19 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES FFICE.

RUDOLPH IF. PECINA AND ERIC V. CARLSON, OF LUS AI TGELES, GALIFORNIA.

MUSICAL STEIN G-INSTEUIVIE1T TUNER.

Application filed September Our invention relates to tuning devices formusical instruments, and more particularly to a tuning device forstringed musical. instruments.

The general object of our invention is to provide a tuning device forstringed musical instruments, such as violins, which may he adjusted tohold the strings oi? the instrument in proper tension to produce tonesof the right pitch, and which will remain so adjusted when the stringshrealc, and may he manipulated 50 that new strings may .dily beconnected thereto and h id in p oper tuning tension without lurthcracljicitinei' thus making it possible for anyone without a musical earto substitute, for a broken string, a new one which will automaticallybe in tune.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illust 'ated in the annexed drawing which forms a partoi? this specification and in which- Figure 1 is a side view 01 astringed musical instrun'ient with our tuning device mounted thereon andholding the strings of the instrument in tuning tension.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the instrument and tuning device shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the tuning device on an enlargedscale taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view partly broken away, of the tuning device.

Figure 5 is a iiragn'ientary side view of one of the tuning elements,shown in differ ent positions.

Figure 6 is a plan view of one ot the strings of the instrumentconstructed to be connected to my tuner.

Corresponding reference characters desi n ate the same parts in all thefigures.

In the drawing A. designates a musical instrument, such as a violin,comprising a body 1, a neck 2, a tail piece 8, a bridge 41:, strings 5,and finger board 6.

Our tuning device designated 13 is inouutml on the upper end of the neck2 of the instrument A and comprises generally a base plate 7, a hood 8,and a plurality of string tuning and holding elements 9 corresponding innumber to the number of strings 5 of the instrument. The plate 7 issecured at its inner end in the upper end of the neclr 2 of theinstrument A. The hood 8 fits over the a, 1925. Serial no. 55,0210.

plate 7 and is detachably secured thereto near its lower edge by screws10. Each string tuning and holding element 9 coinprises a swingable arm11, a hook 12, a spring 13, an arm engaging roller 14, and a push rod15. The arms 11 extend through slots 16 in the plate 7 and are pivotedat their lower ends 1? to bracket 18 secured to the under side of saidplate. The hooks 12 are formed with shanks 19 pivoted at one end at 20to the arms 11. A. crossbar 21 is screwed on the plate above andadjacent the upper end of the linger board 6 of the instrument A, whichbar is formed with upturned flanges 22 and 23 along its upper and lowerside edges and with a groove 2 L between said flanges. The lower edge ofthe forward end wall of the hood 8 rests upon the upper edge of theupper flange 22 at 25. The flange 22 is provided with a plurality ofnotches 26 aligned respectively with the strings 5 through which notchesextend the shanks 19 of the hooks 12, the hooks them selves normallyresting within the groove 24. Each of the rollers 14 is journaled in apair of bearings 27 which are formed on the lower end of a spring 18 andstraddle an arm 11. Each arm 11 is longitudinally grooved on. its lowerside as indicated at 28 to provide a trackway for a roller 14- to ridein. In the upper end of each spring 13 is secured nut 29 which r ceivesa screw 30 extending through an opening 31 in a block 32 on the upperend of the plate 7, the head 33 of the screw engaging the upper side ofsaid block, said screw and nut through spring 13 drawing the roller 14Lon the lower end of the spring against the lower side of an arm 11.,whereby the hook 12 connected to said arm is drawn upwardly to tightenand tune the string 5 which is connected. to said hook. The opening Elldiverges down-- wardly so that the screw 30 may swing up or down fromits head as a pivot against the hlock 32 to allow for the travel of theroller 14 up or down in the arm 11.

A look nut 234i screws on eachscrew 30 against the nut .29 engaged bysaid screw, whereby he tension of the spring 13 held by said screw, isadjusted to hold a string 5 in proper tuning tension. Each push rod 15is slidahly mounted in a hearing 35 on the under side of the upper wallof the hood 8 in alignment wit and in position for its lower end to ..eupper end of an arm 11.,

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the upper end of the rod extending out through the upper end wall of thehood. and a button 36 being secured on said end ofthe rod. in spring 37normally holds each push rod 15 withdrawn upwardly away from an arm 11,one end of said spring being connected at 38 to the bearing and theother end of the spring leing connected at 39 to the rod.

Each of the strings 5 of the instrument is formed with loops l0 and llat its lower and upper ends respectively. The lower loops oi? thestrings engage lugs -12 respectively on the tail piece 3 ot theinstrument, while the upper loops ll engage the hoolis 12 whereby thestrings are held in position on the instrument.

hen a string breaks the button 36 of the element 8 which holds thestring is pressed downwardly, which correspoi'idingly press the rod intoenga inent with the upper end ot the arm 11 or .aid element and swingssaid arm downwardly against the tension of the spring 13 of saidelement, whereby the hook of said element is pushed downwardly and israised slightly by its engagement with the lower side of the groore .Jttof bar 21 into position to be engaged by the upper loop 41 of a newstring, the lower loop of said string having been first engaged with alug 42 of the tail piece 3 of the instrument. The button 36 is thenreleased, whereupon the spring 13 swings the arm 11 upwardly and drawsthe 11001: 12 and the string upwardly until the string is drawn to theproper predetermined tension and tuned, the spring 13 holding saidstring being adjusted to hold the string in proper tuning tension, bymeans of the screw 30 and loclr nut 34, thus making it possible for onenot having a musical ear to puta new string in the instrument in tunedtension.

A plurality of set screws l3 are seated in the block 32 and respectivelyengage the screws 30 for prerenting said screws, spring 13, and roller1s: from turning and disengaging the rollers from the arms 11.

e clainnv 1. in combination with a stringed instrument, a tuning deviceincliidin s tor en i d holdin' the strings ot the instrument in tuned teon. and a push rod independent of said engaging and holding meansadaptedtor relaxing said engaging and hold ng means.

2. In combinat on with a stringed musical instrument. a tuning deviceincluding means for engaging and holding the strings of the instrumentin tuned tension, a slidable push rod independent of said engaging andhold ing means adapted -for relaxing said engaging and holding means,and nieans for ad 'ustine' said en 'aoging and holdin means.

- 3 D cl V r- 3. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, atuning device including a plurality ot string tuning elements corresponding in number to the number of strings of the instrument cach tuningelement comprising a pivoted arm, a hook connected to said arm to whichhoot: the upper end of one oi the strings of the instrument connected,:1 a roller journaled in one end 0t said and engaging said arm it ordrawing in, boot; and string upwardly to tune the string.

In conibii'iation with a stringed musical rninent, a tuning deviceincluding a. plurality ot rtring tuning elements (O.1L."j)t)t1(t ing innumber to the number of strum; ot? the in unieut. each tuning(ltltlltllt comprising a pivoted arm. a hoot: connected to raid arm towhich hool: the upper end it one (it tl e str ngs oi the instrument isconnected, :1 sprin a roller jfltl tlititfl in one end ot' said uptl'ttl ei'zgugir aid arin tor dra tring upwardly to ing said rrni. hoot:and tune the string. and means tor adjusting the tension of saidsprii'ig.

5. in combination with a stringed inn sicul instrument, a tuning deviceincluding a plurality of string tuning elements corresponding in numberto the number of strings of the instrument, each tuning elementcomprising a pivoted arm, a hook connected to said arm to which hook theupper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, aspring, a roller journaled in one end of said spring ano engaging saidarm for drawing said arm hook and string upwardly to tune the string,and a push rod for engaging said arm and swinging the same and drawingsaid hook downwardly for connecting the upper end ot a string to sandbook.

6. In combination with a stringed musical instrument a tuning deviceincluding a plurality of string tuning elements corresponding in numberto the number of strings oi? the instrument, each tuning elementcominrising a pivoted arn'i. a hoot: connected to said arm to which hookthe upper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, aspring, a not fixed in one end of said SJliIlg. a fixed block. a screwerr tending through said block and ena'aainq said nut for adjusting thetension (it Enid spring, a roller journaled on the other end of saidspring and engaging iid arm for d *awing said arm. hook andisqringupwardly to tnnethe string. i

t. In combination with a. stringed musical instrument. a tuning deviceincluding a pinrality of string timing elements corresponding in numberto the number of strings of the instrument, each tuning element comprising a pivoted arm. hook connected to said arm to which hoolq theupper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, aspring.v a roller journaled in one end 0'? said spring and engaging saidarm ltlt) lie Illa

for drawiug'said arm, hook and string upwardly to tune the string, agrooved member in which said hook normally rests and which said. hookengages and is raised slightly thereby when the arm is swung and thehook moved downwardly for connecting a string to the hook.

8. In combination with a stringed musical instrument a tuning deviceincluding a plu rality of string tuning elements corresponding in numberto the number of strings of the il'istrument, each tuning element comprising a pivoted arm, a hook connected. to said arm to which hook theupper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected,

a spring, a nut fixed in one end of said spring, a fixed block, a screwextending through said block and engaging said nut for adjusting thetension of said spring, a lock nut on said screw for locking the springadjusted to the proper tension, a roller journaled on the other end ofsaid spring and engaging said arm for drawing said arm, hook and stringupwardly to tune the string.

9. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, a tuning deviceincluding a pluraiity of string tuning elements corresponding in numberto the number of strings of the instrument, each tuning elementcomprising a pivoted arm, a hook connected to said arm to which hook theupper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, a sring, a roller journaled in one end of saic spring and engaging said armfor drawing said arm, hook and string upwardly to tune the string, apush rod for engaging said arm and swinging the same and drawing saidhook downwardly for connecting the upper end of a string to said hook,and a lock nut on said screw for locking the spring adjusted to theproper tension.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures.

RUDOLPH F. PECINA. ERIC V. CARLSON.

